Play Misty for Me | | Cast : | Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter | | Director : | Clint Eastwood | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 12, 1971 | | DVD Released Date : | January 06, 2004 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 20, 2005 | | Summary | BETTER THAN FATAL ATTRACTION! | Content
 | Having seen both this movie and "Fatal Attraction" this one is far and above the winner!! The standard upon which all "stalker" films should be based. Clint Eastwood does a fantastic job of acting and directing, though his character is a bit stupid. Point in case: When Jessica Walter (Evelyn Draper), the psycho, attempts suicide in his bathroom he should have had the police take her away to the "Psych" ward immediately!! But, then of course, we wouldn't have had the marvelous scene afterward where she hacks the maid, and embarrasses him at the restaraunt at his business meeting with the older woman who was trying to give him a better radio job. Walter is fantastic!! She steals every scene she is in! Unlike Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" one understands Eastwood's initial attraction for her. I never understood Michael Douglas's motive behind his attraction for Glenn Close because he was married to the beautiful Anne Archer who no man in his right mind would cheat on. Anyhow, this is about "Misty". The only scene that bogs the movie down is the "Monterey Jazz Festival" which drags on for nearly ten minutes and adds nothing to the plot. Aside from this though, the rest of the film is pure excitement! The scene where Eastwood is sleeping and wakes to find Walter standing over his bed with a butcher knife is enough to give anyone the willies...and this should be a lesson to everyone! Avoid premarital sex and make sure you get to know a person well enough before you start dating them and NEVER, EVER lead anyone on! |
| Rating | | | Date | June 09, 2005 | | Summary | A Suspense Film Which Builds Up A Nice Head Of Steam | Content
| I saw this movie some time ago but decided recently to take another look. I'm glad I did. My memory centered on two things, the song Play Misty for Me and the bloody slashings. After watching the movie again I have renewed respect for it as a solid piece of movie making, and the song and the slashings still work. (As much as I like the song, I can never hear it without immediately thinking of the movie.) Sure, there are some smaller things that date the film, but it has a strong, uneasy story and the suspense holds up. The acting and the pace of the movie, to my mind, make it still a very watchable film. Like The Ipcress File, the strong components make the movie work.
In particular, I was startled at just how strong an actor Jessica Walter is. When she revs up her psycho side, she just sweeps everything out of her way. There is something unnerving about Walter. She's a very attractive woman, but with her strong chin, straight mouth and eyes that seem to stare into you...without blinking...there's something hidden and hard.
I like the way Eastwood isn't afraid to play next to strong actresses like Walter. He's not afraid to be vulnerable. His character here is more or less an average guy who gets more than he bargained for. A film of his I like a lot for the most part (as with this one) for much the same reason is Tightrope with Genevieve Bujold.
I could have done with a little less slashing and little less blood, but on balance I think those are minor quibbles. The movie seems to me to be a well-crafted film and shows Eastwood knew what he was doing when he decided to get into directing.
I watched one of the extras with the key people, including Eastwood and Walter, reminiscing about how the movie got made. It was generally a series of verbal valentines directed at Eastwood, but some of the things he had to say were of interest. The DVD transfer is just fine |
| Rating | | | Date | March 30, 2005 | | Summary | It's Jessica Walter's movie all the way... | Content
| I'm surprised, not one negative review out of over 40. As a huge Clint fan (and a huge 70s movie fan) I do like this movie. However, that said, it could have been a lot better. It's great to see Clint in street clothes, but his direction seems tentative (too slow) at times, at others, muddled. Though the Monterey Jazz scene is one I like, it's dilutes the power the movie has built up to this point. I would have liked to have seen Clint include this scene in a way that adds to the flow rather than detracts from it. The love scene is in there to allow the entire Roberta Flack sung 'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' to be included without edit. This was a mistake. I love that song, but this scene is just gratuitous filmmaking, pure and simple. Besides, Donna Mills isn't that pretty, then or now. Plus her acting (at least in this movie) is weak, probably the only person in the movie who looks unsure of herself and her role. As far as Clint's acting, well... In one way, I want to say that he just phoned this in. On the other hand, I enjoyed his laidback performance. But, as critics once upon a time said, is it acting? I'm not so sure. For me, Clint's best movie, and best acting, is/was 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot' (1974). This movie is much better than 'Play Misty for Me'. The characters are much more memorable, and the script, by Michael Cimino (who also directed) is first rate. If you liked Clint in this, see 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'. It's not only the best Clint movie you've never seen, it's THE BEST MOVIE you've never seen. 'Play Misty for Me' is most notable for Jessica Walter's performance. She is SCARY in this movie. Her performance is the best reason to see this movie. Without her presence, this movie would not have worked. She should have become a star after this movie. It's a real shame that she's only (really) remembered for this role. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 26, 2005 | | Summary | Stylish thriller | Content
| Clint Eastwood stars as radio disc jockey Dave who has an obsessed fan named Evelyn (Jessica Walter). She calls the station every night and asks Dave to "play 'Misty' for me." They meet and have a one-night stand, and then Dave is ready to return to his old girlfriend, Tobie (Donna Mills). Evelyn has other plans, however. Obsessed with Dave, she begins stalking and threatening him.
"Misty" was quite a unique thriller back in 1971 (It was the inspiration for the movie "Fatal Attraction") and is still effective today. The story is believable, intense, and fast-paced, with a few very violent moments that are guaranteed to make you jump. Walter is outstanding as the deranged woman, Eastwood is convincing as the sexy DJ, and Mills does a good job as his romantic interest. The movie was filmed in lovely Carmel with its secluded beaches and crashing surf, and features the song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."
This was the first film that Eastwood directed and it is really good. The DVD has some very interesting commentaries by the three stars. I recommend it to those who like romantic thrillers with mature stars, a compelling script, and lots of creepy atmosphere.
Kona |
| Rating | | | Date | February 11, 2005 | | Summary | Some phonecalls can be hazardous to your health | Content
| Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this movie about a smooth-talking disc jockey who has a brief fling with Jessica Walters, then finds that she's like cellophane on your fingers: he just can't shake her off. He is all cool and superficial and teflon, until he wakes up to the reality that Walters, who stalks him by phone and in person, is not going to go away.
The film has its flaws, the plot is not that intricate and is horrifyingly predictable (and predictably horrifying), but the acting partially counters those weaknesses. If Jessica Walters' character ever smiles at you, run away, and don't stop running. The end result is a movie whose lessons (e.g., flings can be very expensive) and mood are more memorable than it's story. |
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